Before even fully taking the Jade Slip, Li Mu eagerly scanned it.
The high-grade Materials stored in Shopkeeper Liu's Material shop warehouse were numerous and varied, with a considerable quantity.
The total value of these Materials amounted to over a million High-Grade Spirit Stones, plus the deposit and rental fees for the shop, bringing the total cost Li Mu needed to pay to two million High-Grade Spirit Stones.
Li Mu secretly breathed a sigh of relief; this amount was one-fifth of his Family's assets, so this shop should be fine.
Moreover, the two overlooked items he had just discovered were enough to offset a portion of the Spirit Stones.
If he could successfully acquire this shop, he would have a stable source of income, thereby better supporting his Cultivation.
Li Mu decided to accept the terms without hesitation.
Li Mu immediately began to ponder the shop's operational plan.
Unlike Shopkeeper Liu's Material shop, which sold various raw Materials and Spirit Medicine, he would sell finished products, which would yield a much higher profit.
However, refining Spiritual Artifacts, Spirit Pills, Spiritual Charms, and even Puppets, these finished products would require a large amount of Materials, plus the Materials needed for auxiliary planting.
At that time, he would need to find one, or several, stable and powerful suppliers.
"Senior Li, is there a problem? Can you take all of this inventory?"
Seeing Li Mu browse the Jade Slip for a while and then suddenly fall into thought, Miss Ji quickly broke the silence and asked with concern.
Liu Yalan's expression immediately became tense as she quietly awaited Li Mu's reply.
"Basically, no problem. Shopkeeper Liu, is there any further discount on the price?"
Li Mu looked up at Liu Yalan and Miss Ji, a faint smile on his face.
At this moment, he was no longer considering acquiring the shop, but rather, planning to take the female shopkeeper along with it.
The shop's operation required someone to be in charge.
Li Mu could refine some finished products for sale, but he couldn't devote his energy to it.
At that time, he could let Xue'er assist and learn management, and send Little Gold and Little Tile to guard the warehouse.
The shop's operation still needed some experienced hands to be responsible.
Li Mu already had a plan in mind.
Xue'er was intelligent and lively, and possessed the Heavenly Fox Bloodline, giving her an extremely high talent for controlling emotions and feelings.
Having her spend all day in secluded Cultivation on the island with him was a bit of a waste of her talent.
Letting her learn shop management and operation, and how to deal with people, he believed she would quickly master the shop's operational skills and accelerate her growth.
However, the shop's operation still required some experienced hands to be responsible.
These experienced hands needed to possess rich experience and skills, capable of handling various unexpected situations and ensuring the shop's normal operation.
The current Shopkeeper Liu was undoubtedly a suitable candidate.
She had managed this shop for many years and possessed extremely rich experience and skills in shop operation and management.
If she could be persuaded to stay and continue managing this shop, then Li Mu could rest assured and entrust the shop to her.
"The price I showed you is already the cost price, but if you can pay all the fees in one lump sum, the price can be discounted a bit more," Liu Yalan replied to Li Mu, looking a bit helpless.
"Paying in one lump sum is not a problem, but I have two additional conditions. Shopkeeper Liu, would you consider them?" Li Mu nodded cheerfully and asked with a smile.
"Hmm? Senior, please speak," Liu Yalan asked curiously, a little surprised by his "wealth and influence."
"I wonder, after this shop is transferred, does Shopkeeper Liu have any other arrangements?" Li Mu asked with a smile.
Upon hearing this question, Liu Yalan fell into a brief silence.
She looked up at the busy street outside the window, her heart a mix of emotions.
She had managed this shop for decades, investing deep feelings into it.
She was naturally reluctant to transfer it.
Every familiar corner of the shop held countless memories and efforts of hers.
However, the Liu Family was now in trouble and could no longer support her in continuing to operate the shop.
If she were to leave, Liu Yalan truly had no immediate destination.
"I don't have any concrete plans yet, but I'll try to find a way to open another shop!" Liu Yalan responded to Li Mu, looking a bit lost.
Li Mu smiled faintly, looked at Liu Yalan, and continued, "Shopkeeper Liu, if you don't mind, could you stay and help me? To be honest, this is my first time opening a shop, and I'm a bit lacking in management experience!"
Liu Yalan frowned, not expecting Li Mu to make such a request.
She had originally thought Li Mu only wanted her to help manage the shop for a period until a suitable successor was found.
But she didn't expect Li Mu to actually want her to stay and help long-term.
This surprised her and made her a bit hesitant.
After all, she was currently facing difficulties and needed to resolve them quickly.
If she agreed to Li Mu's request, she would need to temporarily put aside her own plans and help Li Mu manage the shop.
However, the conditions Li Mu proposed made her a little tempted.
If she could cooperate with Li Mu, she could use her experience and knowledge to help the shop quickly get on track.
At the same time, she also hoped to use this opportunity to restart her career.
"I wonder, Senior, what is your other additional condition?" Liu Yalan did not respond directly, but instead asked about the other condition.
Li Mu smiled faintly and stated his condition directly: "Your Liu Family controls many Material procurement channels, right? If possible, I hope to cooperate with the Liu Family and have you supply large quantities on a long-term basis."
Upon hearing this, Liu Yalan's spirits lifted, and she looked at Li Mu with surprise and joy: "Senior, is that true!"
This condition surprised her, but it also gave her hope.
If they could cooperate with Li Mu, the Liu Family could use this opportunity to rise again.
After all, the Material business had always been the Liu Family's strength.
They controlled many high-quality Material procurement channels, which was one of the important reasons they were able to establish themselves on Wanxing Island.
However, due to the Family's recent difficulties, their business had been severely impacted.
If they could cooperate with someone with such vast financial resources as Li Mu, the Liu Family might have a chance to overcome this difficulty.
"Of course, the quantity and types of Materials Li needs are considerable.
If the Liu Family can provide them in a timely manner, the price will certainly not let the Liu Family suffer losses," Li Mu said with a faint smile, confirming it.
"I can't make this decision.
I need to communicate with the Family Head," Liu Yalan replied, her joy and surprise mixed, trying to suppress her excitement.
"Alright! Let's discuss the shop transfer today.
Miss Ji, I'm renting this shop.
If there's no problem, please draft the lease agreement quickly!" Li Mu nodded and turned to Miss Ji, gesturing.
"Okay, Senior!" Miss Ji nodded happily and immediately took out paper and pen to start drafting the lease agreement.
The shop lease agreement template was already prepared, so she quickly drafted it.
...
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, an hour passed.
Under Miss Ji's guidance, Li Mu signed the lease agreement, rented the Liu Family's shop, inventoried the Liu Family's shop's Material warehouse, and took all the Materials from the entire shop into his possession, paying nearly two million High-Grade Spirit Stones for it.
Receiving the lump-sum payment from Li Mu gave Liu Yalan a deeper understanding of his strength, and she began to take his invitation more seriously.
"Senior, I wonder how you plan to operate this shop in the future.
If you continue to sell Materials, the competition on Wanxing Island is too great!
If you don't have your own procurement channels, it might be difficult to get started," Liu Yalan asked Li Mu, probing.
"Shopkeeper Liu, this shop will no longer sell Materials.
It will sell finished Spiritual Artifacts, Spirit Pills, Spiritual Charms, and other finished spiritual items.
The quality, quantity, and profits are guaranteed, so there's no fear of competing with other businesses," Li Mu replied with a faint smile, confidently.
"How about it, Shopkeeper Liu, are you willing to join this shop?
As for the remuneration, it's thirty thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones per month, plus a one percent commission on performance!" Li Mu looked at Liu Yalan and invited her warmly.
This condition was very tempting, and Liu Yalan's heart immediately fluttered.
However, she also had some concerns, namely whether Li Mu's supply of goods could be stably provided.
"Senior Li, your financial resources are unquestionable, and this condition is indeed very tempting.
However, I want to know if the supply of goods can be stabilized.
If the supply is not stable, the shop's operation may not be so smooth," Liu Yalan looked at Li Mu and honestly expressed her concerns.
She knew that the stability of the supply was crucial for the shop's operation.
If the supply was unstable, the shop's operations would be affected, and it might even lead to operational difficulties.
Upon hearing this, Li Mu pondered for a moment.
This question indeed needed serious consideration.
Although he was multi-talented, proficient in Artifact Refining, Alchemy, Charm Drawing, and Puppet refining, and all at the Great Grandmaster level, a person's time and energy were limited.
If the supply of goods was wide open, it would go against his original intention of opening the shop.
Li Mu was not short of Spirit Stones.
His main purpose in opening this shop was to establish a stable channel to collect rare and scarce high-grade Materials, while also selling some of the spiritual items he refined.
However, if the supply of goods was unstable, this goal would be difficult to achieve.
He needed to find a way to ensure the stability of the supply without going against his original intention of opening the shop.
Li Mu thought carefully for a moment and immediately had an idea.
The Azure Jade Ginseng King was a plant spirit that had achieved Seven-rank True Spirit.
Through the Spirit Control Contract Seal and Divine Soul transmission, he could teach it the insights of Puppet refining and Alchemy.
This way, it could gradually take on the roles of Alchemist and Puppet maker.
In addition, the Crimson Refining Fire Phoenix itself was also a Seven-rank True Spirit.
Although still young, teaching it Artifact Refining would also help it learn and exercise its fire control power, making it naturally suitable to become an Artifact Refiner.
There was no need to expect the Crimson Refining Fire Phoenix to refine Five-rank or Six-rank Spiritual Artifacts or Spirit Treasures; it could start by refining low-rank Spiritual Artifacts, which should not be a problem.
Furthermore, the Extreme Yang Heavenly Fire's spirituality was not weak, and it had been refining artifacts with him for so long that it should have learned a lot about the Dao of Artifact Refining.
Promising it some benefits and having it cooperate with the Crimson Refining Fire Phoenix in Artifact Refining should not be a problem.
And the Azure-Eyed White Ape had already transformed into a six-armed form at the Sixth Rank, possessing human-like intelligence.
With its intelligence, learning to draw Spiritual Charms should not be a difficult task.
...
Countless images flashed through Li Mu's mind, and he immediately assigned tasks to the few idle Beast Companions under his command.
Little Tile and Little Gold would be responsible for guarding the shop warehouse.
Xue'er would follow Shopkeeper Liu to learn shop management.
The Azure Jade Ginseng King would take care of the spiritual plants while simultaneously learning Alchemy and Puppet refining.
The Crimson Refining Fire Phoenix would learn Artifact Refining.
The Azure-Eyed White Ape would learn to draw Spiritual Charms.
As for the Double-Horned Azure Moon Flood Dragon, its Undergoing Tribulation was more important at the moment, so it was not needed.
Giving these Beast Companions something to do would save them from being idle all day and not focusing on Cultivation.
At that time, he would only need to occasionally refine some high-grade Spiritual Artifacts, Spirit Pills, and Puppets to provide high-quality goods for the shop.
This way, the shop would not consume too much of his energy and could operate normally.
These thoughts flashed through his mind, and Li Mu's face showed a confident smile as he replied to Liu Yalan: "You don't need to worry about the supply of goods.
Since I dare to open this shop, I have this confidence!"
"That's good.
Since Senior Li is so confident, I am relieved," Liu Yalan said with a relieved smile, looking at Li Mu.
"Shopkeeper Liu, shall we work together and manage this shop together?" Li Mu asked with a smile, looking at Liu Yalan, confirming.
"Yes, Yalan will not fail your trust!" Liu Yalan bowed and replied with a smile.
The two looked at each other and smiled, their hearts filled with anticipation and confidence.
Afterward, Li Mu collected all the Materials in the shop, and then summoned Xue'er from the Painting World Treasure Mansion, having her participate in the shop's redecoration, renaming, opening, and other matters.
Ultimately, the shop was renamed "Li's Treasure Pavilion," with Liu Yalan serving as the Head Shopkeeper, overseeing the shop's daily operations, staff recruitment, and all other matters.
Xue'er would serve as the Deputy Shopkeeper, assisting in managing the shop and overseeing the shop's accounts.
At the same time, Liu Yalan would also be responsible for communicating with the Liu Family to ensure timely supply of Materials from the Family.
As for Li Mu, he acted as a hands-off shopkeeper, providing Spirit Stones and merchandise, but not intervening in the shop's daily management.
Seeing the two women enthusiastically discussing the details of the decorations, Li Mu turned and left the backyard, stepping out of the shop to get some fresh air.
Just then, footsteps approached rapidly from afar.
"Senior, this is a temporary residence permit.
Please take it first for daily entry and exit from Wanxing Island.
Once I submit this contract, I will process your permanent residence permit," Miss Ji, who had been gone for a long time, hurried back and handed Li Mu a white jade token, indicating.
"Hmm! Thank you, Miss Ji!" Li Mu accepted the token and thanked her.
"You're too kind, Senior.
If you have any other instructions, please feel free to tell me.
Hanyan will do her best," Miss Ji said with a smile.
Li Mu first rented a spiritual island, then rented a shop, and she had served him twice.
Miss Ji had received a large commission from Li Mu, more than she had in over a decade, so she was naturally grateful to him.
If she could cling to such a powerful figure, with her Aptitude, she would have a few chances of advancing to Nascent Soul.
It was a pity that Li Mu didn't fancy her and showed no response to her hints, otherwise, even as a concubine, Miss Ji would have accepted it willingly.
"Good! If I need anything, I'll definitely look for you," Li Mu smiled and responded, watching her leave.
"Well, then, I won't disturb Senior.
Junior bids farewell," Miss Ji said with a bitter smile and wisely turned to leave.
Li Mu watched Miss Ji's retreating back and couldn't help but sigh that the female cultivators in this world were not much different from the women in his original world.
For female cultivators like Miss Ji, profit was what they valued most; as long as they could gain enough profit, they would give everything for it.
Li Mu shook his head, no longer thinking about these things, and immersed his Divine Sense into the nine storage spiritual pearl to check the two unexpected gains from this shop rental.
(End of Chapter)
